Insurance & Re-Insurance

Our highly experienced Guernsey team is a leader in the insurance and reinsurance market, advising regulatory authorities, governments, major corporates and ratings agencies. The team is ranked in the top tier by Legal 500 and works closely with clients, intermediaries and the insurance industry on the development of innovative and complex capital market transformer vehicles.

As Europe's premier captive insurance jurisdiction, Guernsey has demonstrated a long history of excellence in the field including the invention of the protected cell company in 1997, a segregated cell structure now used in other sectors, notably investment funds. Bedell Cristin is a leader in this field, having drafted cell company legislation for several foreign governments and being at the forefront of the provision of advice and services to the captive market.

Guernsey is also one of the world's leading destination for segregated cell captives, making local practitioners some of the most experienced in the use of such companies for risk management structuring. The island is increasingly a European jurisdiction of choice for transformer vehicles, reinsurance side-car deals and insurance securitisation. Bedell Cristin is also at the forefront of the developing market in insurance linked securities, the fastest growing financial services sector in Guernsey.

Like Guernsey, Jersey’s modern company law provides for both protected cell companies and incorporated cell companies. Our Jersey team, headed by Martin Paul, as well as our teams in other jurisdictions, advise on these and other matters including the migration of insurance companies, insurance business transfer schemes, the effects of English insurance business transfer schemes, and the establishment of business locally.

Bedell Cristin in Guernsey is a member of the Guernsey Insurance Industry Association. Bedell Cristin is a founder member of the Jersey International Insurance Association.

Bedell Cristin's Guernsey and Jersey offices have acted alongside each other as counsel to the French mutual Covéa in connection with its purchase of UK regulated life insurer Sterling Insurance Group.

We are pleased to announce our membership of the World Services Group (WSG) representing both Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands. We are looking forward to working with other member firms and developing our membership.

Bedell Cristin’s Guernsey Managing Partner, Mark Helyar, is the only contributor from the Crown Dependencies included in the third edition of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Insurance and Reinsurance 2014, a practical cross border insight into ...

The outcome of the UK referendum on 23 June 2016 to leave the EU was both shocking and unprecedented but Guernsey is well positioned to meet any challenges. Richard Sharp, partner explains. Published in Contact Magazine - July/August 2017 issue.

Bedell Cristin partner Mark Helyar and Clive James of insurance captive manager Kane discuss whether there is room for European domiciles to gain a stronger foothold in the ILS market. Published in Insurance Day, 16 March 2015.

Collateralised re is the fastest growing source of alternative capacity and the good news is that it looks like it’s here to stay. It is now the dominant source of alternative reinsurance capacity and investors and capacity providers are increasingly seekin...

Mark Helyar, Partner writes the Guernsey Chapter for Insurance & Reinsurance 2013. This article appeared in the 2nd edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Insurance & Reinsurance; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk)